BIO: George W. SPRANKLE, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, page 129.
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  GEORGE W. SPRANKLE, Morrell, Huntingdon county, Pa., son of Samuel 
and Rebecca (Wood) Sprankle, was born in Tyrone township, Blair county, 
Pa., November 6, 1832. Samuel Sprankle was born in 1800, on the old 
homestead on which George W. now resides. He was educated in the common 
schools and made farming his life work. After his marriage he settled 
in Blair county, remained there for a short time, then rented in Porter 
township, and finally bought a farm of 113 acres near Hatfield's Mill, 
Porter township, residing there until his death, which occurred in the 
spring of 1870, at the age of seventy. His wife survived him for 
several years. Both are interred at Alexandria. They were consistent 
members of the Reformed church. Samuel Sprankle was a Republican. He 
was highly esteemed by all who knew him. Their children are: Jacob, 
died in Bellefonte, Pa., in 1890; Susan (Mrs. Henry Bridenbaugh), of 
Martinsburg, Pa.; William, died at Shavers Creek, Huntingdon county, 
1893; George W.,; Samuel, retired, Tyrone, Pa.; Peter, a bachelor at 
Alexandria, Huntingdon county; Frances (Mrs. Harry Neff), Alexandria; 
Lavinia (Mrs. Benjamin Bridenbaugh), deceased; Ann (Mrs. Andrew Grove), 
of Alexandria; Rachel (Mrs. James McDevitt), Los Angeles, Cal., and 
Charlotte.
  George W. Sprankle was but an infant when his parents removed to 
Porter township, Huntingdon county, where he attended school. He was 
not fond of studying, preferring to work on the farm. He remained at 
home until he was twenty-five; he then went to Indiana, where he had a 
tract of land in Allen county, purchased by his father for his eldest 
brother, who would not stay on the place; whereupon the father gave it 
to his son George. He was taken sick soon after reaching the place and 
was unable to farm the land. He accordingly rented it, and farmed his 
cousin's place part of two seasons, after which he returned home. 
During the winter of 1861 he worked in the forage shops at Washington, 
where he fell a victim to that terrible disease, smallpox, and for 
eight weeks lay in the city's hospital. At the end of this time he went 
as the driver of an ammunition and provision team to Yorktown and up 
the Peninsula. He had a companion named Morrow, and when a short time 
after young Morrow was taken very sick with typhoid fever, Mr. Sprankle 
redeemed the promise made to Morrow's father to look after his boy. 
Leaving his work as a driver, he carried his young friend back to the 
hospital in Washington, and in order to be near him resumed his work in 
the forage shop in that city until the patient was well enough to be 
taken to him home at Alexandria, Pa., which duty was voluntarily 
undertaken and accomplished by his faithful friend. In 1862 Mr. 
Sprankle and his young friend enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and 
Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and at once went to the front. 
After numerous skirmishes, they fought side by side in the bloody 
battle of Antietam, when Mr. Sprankle was wounded by a minie ball in 
the left foot, which accident sent him to the hospital for eight 
months. He rejoined his regiment when they went to Harrisburg to 
receive their discharge, on account of the expiration of the nine 
months' service. Soon after coming home Mr. Sprankle resumed farming 
with his father. In the next winter, February, 1863, he was married to 
Miss Margaret, daughter of John Davis. For one year after his marriage 
he farmed for his father, and then rented a farm for four or five 
years, when, the father dying, he bought the old homestead in Porter 
township. This place he farmed for three years, then sold it and bought 
another farm of 80 acres near Alexandria, where he resided for three 
years, and then rented the Piper farm in Porter township, as the 80 
acres proved too small for the growing family. Five years later, in 
1887, he removed to his present place, where he has remained ever 
since, having sold his 80 acre farm near Alexandria in the spring of 
1895. the children of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Sprankle are: Emma Grace 
(Mrs. Samuel Neff), Porter township; John D., in railroad ticket office 
at East Liberty, Pa.; Sallie K., at home; Florence M., at home; Samuel 
W., attends school, and is a teacher, and Wilbur Allen, at home. Mr. 
Sprankle is a Republican, and has served his township as tax collector, 
supervisor and school director for many terms. He is a member of the 
Reformed church at Alexandria.